Charles Ellicott Commentary Acts 27:32

"Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off." — Acts 27:32 (ASV)

Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat.—The act had to be the work of an instant. The boat was already lowered, and the sailors were on the point of leaping into it. We can picture their mortification on finding their selfish plan at once detected and frustrated. Even in this, however, there was a new element of danger. Men, under such circumstances, were likely to be sullen and unwilling workers.